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BETA READING

BETA READING

$100 CAN up to 50,000 words - after which $0.005/word

Alanna is a great beta reader/editor. She has an excellent command of
the English language, knows where to add subtle shades to coax out the
right moods in your writing, and offers sincere compliments of strong
elements. She suggested that I add a scene. At first, I didn't want to,
but the more I chewed on it the more I realized she was right. She'd
offer great assistance for any stage of your writing journey.

ROLLAN WENGERT — AUTHOR OF 'ZAIDE: MOZART'S LOST OPERA

If the writer is the 'alpha', then the early reader is the 'beta'.

A writer pours out story to a point of being too close — to a point of not being able to see the flaws. This is why beta readers are integral to the outcome of a finished piece of writing — they see the weaknesses a writer is too close to recognize.

As a beta reader, I will read your manuscript with the purpose of critiquing the story and emotion. I will pay special attention to character development, pacing, plot, and consistency.

I won't worry about things like spelling and grammar—though I will make notes if I find glaring mistakes—I'm much more interested in my emotional response to the story and whether or not you've written something that might resonate with an audience from start to finish.

Beta readers have the privilege of influencing the version that will go to print and I will approach each reading knowing that this is NOT the final version.

I will be kind. But I will also be ruthless because without full honesty your project may never reach its full potential.

WHAT DOES A BETA ACTUALLY LOOK FOR?

On top of attention to such overall things as characters, pacing, plot, and consistency, I can also watch and note the following:

parts/scenes that feel unnecessary, that are too obvious to be stated or don't lead anywhere (everything should inform the story...anything else is just taking up space)

glaring mistake (spelling/grammar, etc.)

any questions that arise

clichés

consistent tone

repetition (of information, words, phrases)

plot discrepancies

I have designed a score sheet that will guide me through the process of reading your work, designed to clearly show where you should consider spending more time in your project before moving on to the next steps.

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Maybe you don’t need us. Maybe you know the ins and outs of
getting your book into the hands of readers. That’s great! We celebrate
with you!

But maybe you don’t know the ins and outs. Maybe you’ve hit a
wall. Maybe you’re discouraged or confused or overwhelmed. Maybe you
just need a partner to come beside you and guide you gently towards your
goal.

And your goal is our goal. We aren’t interested in taking you somewhere you don’t want to go. We have no agendas to push except the one you assign us.

If you’re stuck, reach out. We’re here to pull you out of the mud.

Visit our SERVICES tab to learn about all the ways we’re here to help you from flighty idea to a tangible reality.

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- a five part short story - ...a very pleasurable dirty little secret —Amazon reviewer
published for Kindle on May 3, 2016

When Elizabeth Grace must rise to the calling of a bridesmaid's duty, she finds herself trapped in Suite 17 with the groomsmen, an object of desire to the inebriated fiancé of her best friend, Morgan. Her only means of escape is to shut herself into the closet with hopes she'll be forgotten in the throes of the rowdy bachelor party. Unexpectedly, she realizes she is not alone but huddled in the dark with a stranger—a man with a soft voice; smoky, fluid, and kind. The night does not being the way she expected, nor does it end in a way she would have ever dreamed. Will she remain hidden? Will she be honest with Morgan about the behaviour of her fiancé, Peter? And who is the mystery man, comforting her in the darkness.

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About ARP

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Maybe you don’t need us. Maybe you know the ins and outs of
getting your book into the hands of readers. That’s great! We celebrate
with you!

But maybe you don’t know the ins and outs. Maybe you’ve hit a
wall. Maybe you’re discouraged or confused or overwhelmed. Maybe you
just need a partner to come beside you and guide you gently towards your
goal.

And your goal is our goal. We aren’t interested in taking you somewhere you don’t want to go. We have no agendas to push except the one you assign us.

If you’re stuck, reach out. We’re here to pull you out of the mud.

Visit our SERVICES tab to learn about all the ways we’re here to help you from flighty idea to a tangible reality.

KISSING JOHNNY
- a five part short story - ...a very pleasurable dirty little secret —Amazon reviewer
published for Kindle on May 3, 2016

When Elizabeth Grace must rise to the calling of a bridesmaid's duty, she finds herself trapped in Suite 17 with the groomsmen, an object of desire to the inebriated fiancé of her best friend, Morgan. Her only means of escape is to shut herself into the closet with hopes she'll be forgotten in the throes of the rowdy bachelor party. Unexpectedly, she realizes she is not alone but huddled in the dark with a stranger—a man with a soft voice; smoky, fluid, and kind. The night does not being the way she expected, nor does it end in a way she would have ever dreamed. Will she remain hidden? Will she be honest with Morgan about the behaviour of her fiancé, Peter? And who is the mystery man, comforting her in the darkness.

Could the worst moment of her life become a dizzying and powerful romance?

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